There is no debate in regard as to which position is the most important on a football team.

The quarterback position takes on a significance in football that invites no comparisons in other sports. That could be a good augury for Stanford, because quarterback is a strength for the Cardinal.

But no quarterback, no matter how talented, can do it all by himself. A quarterback’s fortunes are directly related to how well his teammates perform.

Here’s a look at the Stanford football team by position:

Quarterback: Senior Trent Edwards is the Sporting News preseason all-conference quarterback. He’s made 24 starts in his Stanford career with a completion percentage that has escalated from 45 percent as a freshman to 54 percent to 62 percent. He’s in his second year under coach Walt Harris and appears to be primed for a breakout season.

Junior T.C. Ostrander is an experienced and capable backup.

Grade: B+

Running back: Jason Evans led Stanford with 248 yards rushing last season. Some guys do that in one game. USC’s Reggie Bush had back-to-back totals of 294 and 260 last year against Fresno State and UCLA.

Anthony Kimble started six games last year after being converted from wide receiver. Kimble, Evans, Ray Jones and Xxavier Carter are competing for carries this fall. Freshman Toby Gerhart will also get a look. Nick Frank is the returning starter at fullback.

Grade: C-

Wide receiver: Mark Bradford and Evan Moore could be one of the top pass-catching combos in the Pac-10. Bradford has 108 receptions in three years. The 6-foot-7 Moore has played sparingly because of injuries but has shown flashes of brilliance.

Depth is a big concern. The only other returning scholarship receiver is Marcus McCutcheon, who has three career receptions. Richard Sherman is the most highly regarded of a group of incoming freshmen.

Grade: B

Offensive line: It would be hard to find any team with more O-line experience. The Cardinal returns eight players who have combined to start 122 games.

Of that group only center Tim Mattran, a former walk-on, has been named a starter, and he is currently out with a leg injury. Josiah Vinson (23 career starts), Alex Fletcher (11) and Ismail Simpson (26) are the guards. Jeff Edwards (26), Jon Cochran (23), Allen Smith and Ben Muth are competing for reps at tackle.

Grade: C-

Tight end: Matt Traverso is on the John Mackey Award watch list. Senior Patrick Danahy has 10 career receptions, three for touchdowns. Redshirt freshmen Jim Dray and Erik Lorig are considered excellent prospects.

Grade: B

Defensive line: It will be a challenge replacing nose tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and end Julian Jenkins. Redshirt freshman Ekom Udofia is thought to have a bright future at nose tackle. Matt Kopa, another redshirt freshman, is the leading candidate to replace Jenkins. Pannel Egboh is the projected starter at the other end position in the 3-4, but is still in the process of returning from a broken leg that ended his season last year.

When Stanford goes to a 4-3, Udeme Udofia, Ekom’s brother and a returning starter at outside linebacker, will line up with his hand on the ground.

Grade: C

Linebacker: Seniors Michael Okwo and Mike Silva are returning starters at inside linebacker. Silva will move to the outside in the 4-3. Redshirt freshman Clinton Snyder had an impressive spring and is first on the depth chart to replace Jon Alston at the other outside position.

With three returning starters from last year’s base 3-4, this is the most experienced part of the defense.

Grade: B

Secondary: Brandon Harrison, a two-year starter at strong safety, has been moved to cornerback after missing spring practice, along with Traverso, because of academic reasons. Harrison will compete with sprinter Wopamo Osaisai at the corner opposite returning starter Nick Sanchez, who is backed up by Tim Sims.

David Lofton and redshirt freshman Bo McNally are competing at free safety; Darren Hooper and Carlos McFall, who was moved from corner, are competing at strong safety.